Rook and Bishop vs Rook: Finishing the Win
White to play and win, after Philidor, 1749
PlayThe black king is pinned to the back rank, and his rook is loose. The win is not a charge. It is two zugzwangs, and the bishop delivers the first one.
Updated
New to this ending? Learn the method first: Domination
No signup needed. The opponent never gives up, and every mistake gets explained.
Finishing the Philidor Position
White to play and win · Win against perfect defense
Waking the engine…
The theory
This is Philidor's position a few moves on, and the finish is pure zugzwang.
The bishop loses a tempo. Bb3, Be6 and back to Bd5 is a triangle. The bishop returns to the same square with the opponent to move, and the defending rook runs out of safe squares.
The rook does the herding. Rd7+, Rh7, Rb7+ and Rb4 push the king toward a8, the corner that matches the bishop's colour, where the mating net exists.
Then zugzwang again. Bc4 hands Black the move, Be6+ follows, and Rb8 is mate.
In this drill the opponent never gives up a half point. Triangulate, herd, and mate.
Keep going
Defending Rook Against Rook and Bishop
Black to play and draw
The Second-Rank Defense
White to play and draw
Holding the Rook and Bishop Ending
White to play and draw
All 30 rook vs minor positionsFollow the full curriculum (free)